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Bearcats Set for Road Test at #18 West Virginia Saturday

The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team is set for a road test at 18th-ranked West Virginia on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Morgantown.

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Bearcats Set for Road Test at #18 West Virginia SaturdayBearcats Set for Road Test at #18 West Virginia Saturday
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team is set for a road test at 18th-ranked West Virginia on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Morgantown.
 
THE RUNDOWN
  • The Bearcats continue their challenging stretch, now set to face No. 18 West Virginia on the road after battling No. 14 Kansas State at home. Cincinnati will take on four teams in the top six of the Big 12 standings to end the season, including three ranked inside the AP Top 25.
  • Cincinnati is looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 28, 2011, when it defeated No. 20 Marquette, 65-62, at home.
  • Fifth year forward Jillian Hayes recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 15 points and 15 rebounds vs. Kansas State. She has now posted 10 double-doubles in three straight seasons, bringing her career total to 33.
  • Hayes has led the Bearcats in scoring 11 times, rebounding 20 times, and blocks seven times this season. She is just one block away from tying the program record and two blocks away from becoming Cincinnati's all-time leader in blocked shots (143), surpassing Bev Obringer's mark of 142 set from 1984-89.
  • Hayes has embraced a new role in the absence of Alliance Ndiba, who has missed the last five games due to injury. After the K-State game, Coach Merriweather praised her selflessness: "The biggest part for me is that we've asked her to do something different ever since Alliance has been out, and she has willingly taken on defending a five-player where she is outmatched, undersized, and all those other things. But she still has enough heart to compete in that space, and I think that's the epitome of who she is."
  • Reagan Jackson has found her rhythm, scoring in double figures in three straight games. Over that stretch, she is averaging 13.3 points with eight made three-pointers. She also logged a career-high 39 minutes against Kansas.
  • Cincinnati leads the Big 12 and ranks second nationally in free throws made per game (17.5). The Bearcats are 14-4 when making more free throws than their opponent, averaging 21.4 per game in wins compared to 11.6 in losses.
  • Defensively, the Bearcats rank second in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+5.8, 29th nationally) and fourth in turnovers forced (17.8 per game). They forced 18 turnovers against Kansas and improved to 12-3 when winning the turnover battle.
  • Hayes is nearly averaging a double-double with 16.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Her 10 double-doubles rank second in the Big 12 and 34th nationally, while she also sits second in the league in rebounding and 11th in scoring.
  • Tineya Hylton is averaging 13.3 points on 38.9% shooting. The Bearcats are 10-3 when she scores in double figures.
  • Among active career Division I leaders, Hayes ranks first in FT attempts (771), second in FTs made (538), 13th in rebounds (1,066) and 27th in double-doubles (33).
  • The Bearcats secured their best non-conference winning percentage (.800, 8-2) since the 2005-06 season (.909, 10-1).
  • Cincinnati is ranked 85th nationally in the Feb. 13 NET, while West Virginia comes in at 13th.      
 
A WIN WOULD...
  • Snap a five-game losing skid to the Mountaineers
  • Mark the Bearcats' first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 28, 2011
  • Give UC its most conference road wins since 2020-21 (6-3)